Nurses week Cheap gifts from admin.

Nurses General Nursing

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So, with nurses week coming up, I was fondly remembering all the neat swag my employer has offered me as a token of their appreciation.

Over the last four years as a nurse I have received -

A calculator that broke in one week,

A fanny pack that was made out of sheet plastic,

A coupon for a free cookie from the cafeteria,

Shoelaces with the hospital logo,

A lunch bag made out of the same sheet plastic as the fanny pack,

And the only gift that was ever usefull, a badge holder like the drug reps give out where your badge is on a string with a spring.

so what kind of gifts does your institution pony up for?

There have to be some worse ones than mine.

We all know that a cheap trinket from our employer will ensure our future longevity with said institution. So what made you stay working where you are.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Bob and Brian? Those are radio personalities on Lazer 103.

Brian, you know who I mean don't you? :)

Specializes in OB, M/S, ICU, Neurosciences.

Don't mean to sound sappy, but the best thing that happened to me during Nurses' Week was that a patient's family told me what a phenomenal job they thought I was doing with their wife/mother, and that they deeply appreciated my care of her.

THAT'S what it's all about as far as I'm concerned--nothing that the hospital could have done as a token would have meant nearly as much. :nurse:

Bestblond.....you're absolutely right!!! A statement of appreciation from a patient or family member is worth more than anything.....and it is what it's all about!

Dear Scrappy, I can totally relate to what you are saying, and

you really caught a lot of flack for voicing from the other side of

the fence. However it sounds like you truly have worked both

sides of the fence, and that is why I can respect your voice. I

always say that we cannot ever truly know what it is like until

you walk in someone else's shoes. Heather OB nurse--

you have had a lot of insights into many things which I have

appreciated, but please be a little more open minded--your

experience may have been difficult with management but it does

not mean the whole world is bad. Maybe you have been or are a

manager and would like to share some insights with all of us.

Thank you scrappy for your side of the story which isn't so pretty

either, but it sounds like on a daily basis you are still trying to

help make things better for nurses the best that you can. None

of us are superhuman.

OOps I meant, DEAR KLARE NOT dear SCRAPPY--sorry

Originally posted by DAISY MAE 1

Heather OB nurse--

you have had a lot of insights into many things which I have

appreciated, but please be a little more open minded--your

experience may have been difficult with management but it does

not mean the whole world is bad.

Open minded to what? Being s**t on daily by management? I don't think so.

Yes, I have a crappy manager, but I've had good ones too, so I know the difference. I also know the whole world isn't a bad place, so save me the lecture. I have no doubt nurse managers have difficult jobs. But I think that some of them are performing poorly at it. I think some of them have forgetten.

READ THE THREAD TITLE. IT'S ABOUT ADMINISTRATION BEING CHEAP. Guess what? We're all bashing administration in here. SURPRISE!

You obviously have better conditions where you are at, and for that I am happy. But perhaps you should be open minded to the fact that some units don't have it as well as you may have it.

Heather

Believe it or not we got some pretty good stuff this year, as compared to most years anyway. We got a cheap insulated lunch bag that is destined to fall apart quickly. While we all thought that was it the hospital surprised us by giving us a really attractive little duffle bag that will be perfect for workout clothes. Not much but better than the 3x t-shirts everyone got last year

Last year and this year our facility had inservices that week, and while we were learning, we were eatin ice cream sundaes-- make your own. I didn't make it to the meeting as I had an appointment, but the nice thing was they saved some pre made for nite turn...Yay! But I was too busy w/ iv's and patients and such to ever eat one, but I did make sure my nurses aides got theirs. I couldn't do it w/o them. And the next day, when out shift was gettin ready to leave our DON comes in w/ a big box of carnations, baby's breath and ferns in little arrangements, gives us each one...and then a big huge hug and said how much we are appreciated. I took it as it was meant b/c we do keep the place running and w/it being hard to get & keep nurses....I also appreciated the thought , however hokey some might feel it was. I guess it's like Christmas, some of us think we deserve lots of gifts and recognition and all, while some of us are just as content w/ a hug for a job well done. I guess I just like gettin hugs, ain't I a cheap date???????:nurse: Laura LPN :nurse:

We got very nice calculators this year. And I found out that a committee of staff employees (activities commettee) pick it out!

Everyone seemed to appreciate this gift.

They put up an appreciation poster with pictures of many of the nurses where visitors and patients can see.

Originally posted by ubcnme

Amen mtgirl63! We're in the same boat as you. We didn't get diddly either...not even a "We sure do appreciate our nurses and how hard they work" which would have been more than enough. Our facility is planning a 'staff appreciation day' as well and I'm sure we'll have to bring a dish for pot luck or contribute in some way....bull-puckey....alot of us are planning on a boycott and not just the nurses either. I work part-time at one of the major hospitals here in town and even THEY gave us a nice thermal cup with goodies...to EACH nurse and I think they have over 500 nurses employed there. My full-time job as all of about 25-30 nurses....go figure.

Bring your own dish and you are the one being honnored!!!!

You know what I appreciate you as does everyone here:kiss :kiss :kiss :kiss

Specializes in Renal, UM, CM.

You mean that was an insulated lunch tote? Not something to bring cold beer to work?

(just kidden)

The rest of the stuff we got was all things that apparently had been collected from the drug reps in our emergency center.

Last year the nurses each recieved a limp carnation. A bagel + juice breakfast was offered one day for those who worked and were able to leave their stations (guaranteed poor turnout, no provisions for off-shifts).

This year we all recieved one miniature snickers bar, with a note it was to remind us to laugh more often.

They just don't get it - we need respect and improved working conditions year round.

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